Feeding grain to millstones



M. & C. PAINTER.

Feed Regulator.

No. 17,446. Patented June 2, 1857.-

E i 1 a z z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

M. PAINTER AND O. PAINTER, OF OVVINGS MILLS, MARYLAND.

FEEDING GRAIN TO MILLSTONES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 17,446, dated. June 2, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, M. PAINTER and G. PAINTER, of Owings Mills, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented a new and Improved device for Feeding Grain and other Substances to be Ground into the Eye of Millstones; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figures 1 and 2, are vertical sections of an upper mill stone or runner with our improvement applied to it.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in thetwo figures.

This invention consists in regulating the feed of the grain by the swaying of a receiving cup, in the manner substantially as hereinafter described.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, we will proceed to describe it.

A, represents an upper mill stone or runner, B, is the curb, D, the bail within the eye F, of the runner, said bail resting upon the point of the spindle F, which passes through the center of the lower or bed stone. The above parts are constructed and arranged as usual, and therefore do not require a minute description.

G, represents a framing which rests upon the upper part of the curb B, and H, is a hopper placed on the framing G, said hopper having a tube I, at its lower end.

J, represents a rock bar or shaft which is fitted in bearings (a), (b), on the upper part of the curb B. This rock bar or shaft is placed below the framing G, and one of the bearings (11), is fitted on a rod (0), and is allowed to slide up and down thereon, said bearing having a cord (d), attached to it which cord passes over a roller (6), in the framing G, and is attached to the curb B.

Within the center of the bar or shaft J, the upper end of a tube K, is pivoted, said tube passing down into the eye E, of the runner A, and at one side of the bail, the lower end of the tube being secured in any proper manner within the eye E.

In consequence of the upper end of the tube K, being pivoted within the bar or shaft J, and said bar or shaft being allowed to turn in its bearings the lower end of the tube K, is carried or swung around with the runner A, the tube working the same asa' universal joint as the pivots of the tube are placed at right angles with the bearings of the rock bar or shaft.

In the upper part of the tube K, a swaying cup L, is secured said cup being directly underneath the tube I, and being a trifle smaller than the upper part of the tube K, which is of flaring shape so as to afford a space between the cup L, and tube K, to allow the grain to pass from the cup down into the tube.

The operation will be readily seen. The hopper H, is filled with grain which passes through the tube I, into the cup L, and as the runner A, rotates, the cup L, is swayed or inclined in varying positions and the grain is pushed out of the cup and passes therefrom down through the tube K, between the two stones, the amount of feed being regulated by raising and lowering the bearing (a), and thereby giving the cup L, a greater or less inclination as may be necessary. The tube I, being fixed and the cup L constantly swaying or changing its position, the edge of the cup L is constantly brought into close proximity to the exterior of tube I. As the edge of cup L, is thus brought in close proximity to tube I, a portion of the grain contained in the cup is pushed by the tube I over the edge of the cup L, and falls down through tube K, to the lower stone. And as there is no rotation of tube K, of course there cannot be any clogging up of the grain by centrifugal force. As fast as the grain is pushed out of cup L, a new supply enters the cup through tube I.

The above improvement has been practically tested and operates well. The stone may be driven with high speed without causing the eye to be clogged or choked and the feed which is perfectly regular may be graduated as desired. This invention is a decided improvement over the one formerly patented by us, and by its use, the shoe, damsel, and knocker now used for feeding the grain from the hopper into the eye is disposed with.

In a' patent granted to us July 1, 1856, the tube which conveys the grain through the eye of the upper stone to the lower or runner stone, is made to swing around on a universal joint, and thus prevent the evil effects of centrifugal motion. But the movement of the tube as above patented to us has no connection with the regulation of the feed of the grain.

We are aware that cups of various forms have been used for regulating the discharge of grain from the hopper. We are also aware that tubes have been employed for conducting the grain from the hopper to the cups. Examples of such devices are seen in the patents of L. Fagin, Oct. 30, 1849, and in W. H. Navacoros rejected application for a patent June, 1853. We therefore disclaim the invention of regulatingcups in themselves considered in grain feeders. We also disclaim the invention of conducting tubes for conducting the grain through the eye of the stone.

In the above patents the cups are attached and revolve with the lower or runner stones and the grain is discharged from the cups in consequence of the centrifugal motion which they receive. This method is faulty because, under a high speed, the grain is projected from the center toward the in-- terior surface of the eye and is liable to clog; while at low speed, owing to the absence of suflicient centrifugal force there will be no discharge of grain at all, unless the feeding tube be elevated entirely above the edge of the cup. In this case all control of the feed is lost, and the grain flows at random.

'Our improvement is quite different from the above devices and is far superior. In the first place. our regulating cup is located at the mouth of the feeding tube, with which it is permanently combined. 2nd. The

regulating cup does not revolve, and the grain is not therefore dependent upon centrifugal motion for its discharge. The

grain is forced over the edges of the cup by the tube I of the hopper; the cup having a motion which brings its sides alternately near to the tube I. The feed of the grain is therefore always in proportion to the speed. No matter how slow, there will be a sure supply of grain. If the speedis quickened the feed of the grain is correspondingly increased. 3rd. The lower end of the feed tube being connected with the runner stone, is carried around by and with it; and the grain is discharged upon the lower stone at its junction with the eye of the upper stone. The feed tube does not revolve, but merely swings around with the runner stone. Therefore there can be no clogging of the grain in consequence of centrifugal motion.

We disclaim every part and feature of our device which is seen in any other grainfeeding apparatus. But to the best of our knowledge and belief it is new to regulate the feed of the grain by the swaying of a cup L which is located and combined with and at the mouth of a swinging tube as herein described. 7

Therefore what we claim as new in grain feeders, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- Regulating the feed of the grain by the swaying of cup L, in the manner substantially described.

MILTON PAINTER. CHAS. PAINTER.

Witnesses:

ROBERT CROSS, J NO. WHITFORD. 

